What are your connections to fathers' groups that favour direct action?

What are your connections to fathers' groups that favour direct action?

We’re not a fathers’ rights organisation and have no affiliation to direct action groups. That’s not to say that there aren’t some inequalities in the way fathers are treated compared to mothers, particularly when it comes to decisions around custody. For example our partners at One Parent Family Scotland tell us that they’ve intervened in a number of situations to take children out of care and restore them to fathers who had been completely overlooked when decisions were being made. And our partners Families Need Fathers Scotland offer a great advice service for dads who feel they’re being unjustly kept from seeing their children. But in general we believe that as culture increasingly reflects the crucial role dads play in the nurture and care of their children, courts will reflect that in the decisions they make.

It's been 12 months of celebration, collaboration and change for families and organisations across Scotland. NICK THORPE looks at what Year of the Dad achieved – and what we might hope for in 2017 and beyond.